‘Girls Gone Wild’ creator feels heat
Joe Francis, the "Girls Gone Wild" creator, is getting reacquainted with the IRS.
Francis, no stranger to controversy in Las Vegas casinos, was hit with a federal tax lien of $33.8 million filed in Los Angeles earlier this month.
According to the IRS, Francis, who amassed a reported $100 million-plus through his soft-porn videos, owes back taxes for 2001 ($17.6 million), 2002 ($11.2 million) and 2003 ($4.9 million).
"I have no idea what it is," Francis, 36, told the Website TMZ.com on Wednesday.
Francis, who two weeks ago copped a plea and avoided prison in a federal tax evasion case, said he doesn't owe the government money.
"This is total retaliation for me beating them in court," Francis told TMZ, adding that the law the IRS is using hasn't been used against anyone in 20 years.
In his interview with TMZ, Francis said the feds seized more than $100,000,000 in cash accounts.
The IRS is forcing him to file for personal bankruptcy, he told TMZ, and indicated he will do that today.
Francis spent 11 months in a Washoe County jail about two years ago on federal tax fraud charges
Earlier this year, he lost a legal battle with Wynn Las Vegas. District Judge Michelle Leavitt ruled in favor of Wynn Las Vegas and ordered Francis to pay his $2 million gambling debt at the casino. With interest and court costs, that amount could reach $3 million.
According to court documents, Francis improperly invoked the Fifth Amendment while refusing to answer questions during a deposition in February.
During the deposition, Francis displayed "his utter contempt for the judicial system" by disrupting the deposition with acts of flatulence, the court papers said.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Media power couple Marla and Tom Letizia are being honored Saturday as Congregation Ner Tamid's Menschen of the Year at the Four Seasons Hotel. All proceeds raised will go to Congregation Ner Tamid. Information: 733-6292 or check the Web site www.CNTvGuide.com ...
Hot spots, cool stuff: A meet-and-greet Saturday featuring former NFL star Tim Brown at Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill (Harrah's), from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
MAY I RECOMMEND ...
The Rape Crisis Center's main fundraiser, a pastry fair called We Knead The Dough, is scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 28 at Town Square Las Vegas. The event features donated baked goods provided by local chefs from the staffs of Wynn Las Vegas, Station properties, Simon at Palms Place, Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse, Loews Lake Las Vegas, The Stratosphere and others.
SIGHTINGS
At this week's 2009 Global Gaming Expo at the Las Vegas Convention Center: "The Price Is Right" host Drew Carey, promoting WMS Gaming's show-themed slot machine; Chris Noth from TV's "Sex and the City," participating in the introduction of IGT's "Sex and the City" slot machine; Rita Rudner, delivering the keynote address; Lily Tomlin, introducing MultiMedia Games' Ernestein's Ringy Dingy Reels slot machine, featuring Tomlin's image; Playboy's 2009 Playmate of the Year, Ida Ljungqvist, at Bally Technologies' booth; cast members from the Crazy Horse show, performing before G2E's ultralounge fashion show.
THE PUNCH LINE
"How can the Oakland Raiders have signs that say 'commitment to excellence'? Shame on them." -- NFL Hall of Famer Mike Ditka, during his speech Tuesday at the Faith Lutheran High School endowment dinner.
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
